Pole-step.



C. G. ETTE.

l 7, 190B. 907,483; Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Unirnn s'rarns nanna enrichi.

CHARLES G. ETTE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO ETTE INVESTMENT COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

POLE-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application filed March "I, 1908. Serial No. 419,792.

T o all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. E'rrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pole-Steps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pole provided with two of my improved pole-steps; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of my improved step 5 and Fig. 3 is a 'cross sectional view taken on the line .3d-3 of Fig. 2.

This invention relates to pole steps; namely, devices that are driven into a telegraph pole to produce steps or foot supports so as to enable a person to climb the pole easily.

T he main object of my invention is to provide a strong and inexpensive pole-step and one which is so constructed that it can be removed easily from the pole in which it is mounted.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates the foot support of my improved device, and B designates a screw-threaded shank formed integral with said foot support and adapted to be screwed into a pole C or other object. The foot support is approximately T-shape in cross section and consists of a vertical web 1 and a horizontally disposed ilange 2 at the upper edge of said web which forms a wide and flat tread or supporting surface. At the outer end of said foot support is an upwardlyT projecting portion 3 that prevents the foot of the person climbing the pole from slipping off the tread 2, and if desired, said upwardly projecting portion 3 can be strengthened by a tapered rib or gusset f1 formed integral with the tread 2. At the inner end of said foot support is a vertically disposed 'Hange or bearing surface 5 extending transversely of the web 1 and adapted to bear upon the exterior of the pole in which the device is mounted, said bearing surface acting to prevent the foot support from bending or being deflected downwardly when it is subjected to the weight of the person climbing the pole. The vertical web 1 is deepest adjacent the inner end of the foot support and is provided with a hole 6 that is surrounded by a circular flange 7 so that when the pole-step is to be removed from the pole in which it is mounted, a rod or the shank of another pole-step can be inserted in said hole 6 and used as a lever to unscrew the step from the pole.

I prefer to form my improved pole-step from malleable iron and as all parts of the foot support A are of approximately the same thickness a proper annealing of the device is insured.

The device is strong, light and presents a neat and ornamental appearance and can also be manufactured at a low cost. The Wide and flat tread or flange 2 adords a substantial bearing surface for the foot o f the person climbing the pole and reduces the liability of slipping, and as the bearing surface or flange 5 projects downwardly some distance below the tread 2, it acts to prevent the foot support from bending downwardly when it is subjected to great weight or pressure.

Another very desirable feature of my improved device is that it can be removed or unscrewed easily from the pole by simply inserting a rod or rigid member in the hole 6 and then turning the rod. The pole-steps heretofore in general use had a foot support that consisted of a round shank and a great deal of trouble was often experienced in removing a step because there was no way of getting a purchase or firm hold on the shank. My improved device overcomes this objectionable feature of the pole-steps heretofore in use as the hole 6 in the foot support permits the workman to get -a good hold on the device so that he can unscrew it easily. It will, of course, be obvious that the hole 6 also enables the workman to obtain a good hold on the device when it is being screwed into the pole and thus overcomes the necessity of using a wrench or special tool for inserting or removing the device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A malleable iron pole-step consisting of a screw-threaded shank, and a foot support of T-shape in cross section formed integral with said shank, the web of said foot support being provided with an opening and a flange surrounding said opening; substantially as described.

2. A malleable iron pole-step consisting of a screw-threaded shank, aT-shaped foot support formed integral with said shank, an up- In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my wardiy proj eoting portion at the outer end of signature in the presence of two witnesses. said support, a downwardly projecting flange CHARLES G ETTE or bearing face at the inner end of said sup- 5 port, and a Circular ange surrounding an Witnesses:

opening in the web of said foot support; sub- WALTER CLARENCE RAITHEL, stantialiy as described. i 'EDWARD SoHwIDDE. 

